How bad was High Park fire air? Think Mexico City bad

A recent study by CSU shows the air quality rivaled that of the pollution of any major city

By Pamela Dickman Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
01/29/2013 03:56:43 PM MST

Fort Collins police officers block off the entrance to the U.S. 287 bypass at Larimer County Road 54G in northwest Fort Collins in early June as smoke from the HIgh Park fire fills the sky. A recent study showed that pollution from the fire could trigger reactions such as asthma or other respiratory conditions, particularly in people who are at risk.
(
Craig Young
)

Smoke from the High Park fire caused air pollution that rivaled that from the world's dirtiest cities, according to CSU researchers. (Jeff Stahla)

During the High Park fire, air quality in Fort Collins -- reputed as one of the cleanest -- rivaled the pollution of some of the worst cities in the world, according to newly released data.

"It would be like breathing the air on the worst days in downtown Los Angeles as well as Mexico City and Beijing," said Chuck Henry, a chemistry professor at Colorado State University.

Henry and John Volckens, a professor of environmental and radiological health sciences, conducted the study during the fire and released some of the data Tuesday.

They found that the particles in the air around Fort Collins were very reactive and created oxidative stress in the human body. That means the pollution could trigger reactions such as asthma or other respiratory conditions, particularly in people who are at risk.

"We were surprised at how reactive they were," Henry said. "It really caught us off guard."

The data used for this analysis was collected from one graduate student, who carried a device developed to measure how particles she inhaled caused stress on the body. She wore the paper test device throughout her normal daily activity during the fire.

The toxins were visible throughout Larimer County during the fire. An orange cloud settled throughout the region and fiery smells burned nostrils during three weeks in June.

Because of associated health risks, Larimer County's Department of Health and Environment repeatedly issued alerts for elderly, children and people with respiratory conditions to stay inside and to avoid exercise. That, according to Henry, was good advice for everyone because of the toxin levels and the stress they caused within the body.

Several people wore the paper test devices throughout the duration of the fire, however, Henry and Volckens have not yet analyzed all the data.

Once they do, they will be able to see how long it took for the air to clear and how the pollution affected different people in varying locations and situations.

Continued study with the technology could help scientists understand the effects of air pollution on people, how it leads to disease and how to target the worst pollutants. Next, the professors plan to expand the study with people wearing the device throughout the city to create a map of air pollution levels.